POLICE are now formally investigating the death of a vulnerable pensioner who was left without care in her Banstead home for more than a week.

POLICE are now formally investigating the death of a vulnerable pensioner who was left without care in her home for more than a week.

Officers from Surrey Police have begun an inquiry following the death of 81-year-old widow Gloria Foster.

She passed away at Epsom Hospital on Monday (February 4) after being found abandoned, starving and dehydrated at her home in Banstead.

Mrs Foster was left alone at the property in Chipstead Road after the Sutton-based firm that cared for her, Carefirst24, was shut down following a raid by the UK Border Agency and Metropolitan Police in January.

The responsibility to arrange replacement care for her was passed on to Surrey County Council.

The Surrey Safeguarding Adults Board is also investigating why she was left to starve.

A spokeswoman from Surrey Police said on Thursday: "Concerns surrounding Gloria's care were raised to Surrey Police at the end of January by staff at the hospital where she died, and officers are now looking into the circumstances surrounding her death.

"The Surrey Safeguarding Adults Board has also been convened and they are conducting a parallel investigation."

A Local Government Ombudsman spokeswoman said it would only get involved if a complaint was lodged, but added that so far none had been received.

Following the tragedy, charity Age UK urged the government to step in and reform the care system and ensure a case such as this could never happen again.

Charity director general Michelle Mitchell said: “Time and again we hear heartbreaking and shocking stories of older people who are being let down by the care system.

"Older people who struggle daily with chronic ill health, frailty and disability should have the peace of mind that they will be well cared for in times of need.

"The care of the most vulnerable in our society is one of the most important issues facing the country.

"It is too important to cast aside and be labelled as 'too costly or difficult’, and corners cannot continue to be cut.

"We need the government to show leadership and make the difficult but vital decisions to reform our broken care system and lift the fear out of later life."

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She has been editorial director of the online and print titles in Surrey and north-east Hampshire since 2007. Marnie previously worked at the BBC as a producer for 5 Live, having moved to national radio from BBC Sussex and Surrey.